Making the holidays fine

Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve are happy times spent with family and friends, good food and celebration. But for some, the holidays are marked with feelings of anxiety and depression, commonly referred to as the Holiday Blues. Stress over hosting family and friends, purchasing gifts, changes in our daily routine or diet and thinking about friends and family who have passed on or live too far away to visit can all contribute to feelings of stress, sadness or loneliness during the holidays.
As we plan our holiday activities, we don’t have to make sure everything we do is perfect or over the top in order to show someone that we care about them. Lending a helping hand, paying a visit, and even a phone call can mean a lot to someone regardless if they might be experiencing the holiday blues, and will help combat any blues of our own.
There is usually a lot going on between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. We will most likely attend more than one event with family and friends and will be confronted with lots of food, alcohol and spending. This can cause a lot of anxiety so be realistic about what you can and can’t do and set limitations. The holidays are more enjoyable when you are not stressed about the repercussions later. This doesn’t mean you need to abstain from drinking and eating at parties, or that you cannot buy presents for those you care about, but rather that you are doing so in moderation so you don’t stray far from your regular routine.
With the holidays right around the corner, many of us may be wondering how the year went by so quickly. Maybe because we immerse ourselves so much in our work and outside commitments that we don’t notice how fast life can be? I hope you’ll take a little time to slow down during the holidays this year. This holiday season, be sure to take a least one whole day where you can put that cell phone away, throw on some pajamas, and remain far away from all the busy restaurants and malls. Whatever you decide to do, take a day for you this year.
In closing, I would like to extend a huge thanks to you the membership for your support in allowing me the privilege to serve as we close out yet another year at Local 602. As always, be sure to take advantage of Local 602 events and opportunities provided at our union hall and in and around the Lansing area. It’s been my goal to make sure UAW Local 602 has a strong presence in our community. Our 2018 calendar is booked even before the year begins, and I couldn’t be prouder as we utilize our hall to the fullest extent possible.
I would like to extend a thank you to each of the following: Tim Bogar, staff member of the Lansing Labor News for your years of hard work and expertise in making the Lansing Labor News what it is today, I wish you the best in your retirement; our UAW Local 602 standing committees who give up their personal time to host events, educate and provide services to our members, their families and friends; the officers and staff I have the pleasure of working with every day as well as our Local’s chairman, members of the shop committee, districts, alternates and appointed.
Together we work hard as a team to bring the direction of our Local forward in these changing and often uncertain times. Many times our work goes unnoticed, but we have been entrusted to do the hard work and make the difficult decisions and we willingly step up to the challenge.
I believe the real measure of our accomplishments is not in the things we do individually, but in the outcome of the direction we take collectively.
Thank you and may you all have a wonderful holiday season!